The world’s largest snowboarding and freeskiing competition just wrapped up this week at Copper Mountain in Colorado, and some High Country residents were named National Champions.
The United States of America Snowboard and Freeski Association (USASA) 2022 National Championship took place from April 2-13 with around 2,000 athletes competing from across 31 regional divisions nationwide, including the Southeastern Series from North Carolina.
Six years have passed since the local USASA Southeastern Series returned to the High Country thanks to two local business owners and passionate snowboarders, Andy McDaniel and Donnie Hefner.
“Me and Donnie started it in 2016, and my wife, Stephanie McDaniel, has become extremely involved with it,” Series Director Andy McDaniel explained.